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He J, Chen L, Wang P, Cen B, Li J, Wei Y, Yao X, Xu Z. Network pharmacology and experimental validation of effects of total saponins extracted from Abrus cantoniensis Hance on acetaminophen-induced liver injury. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 324:117740. [PMID: 38219885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Abrus cantoniensis Hance (AC), an abrus cantoniensis herb, is a Chinese medicinal herb used for the treatment of hepatitis. Total saponins extracted from AC (ACS) are a compound of triterpenoid saponins, which have protective properties against both chemical and immunological liver injuries. Nevertheless, ACS has not been proven to have an influence on drug-induced liver injury (DILI). AIM OF THE STUDY This study used network pharmacology and experiments to investigate the effects of ACS on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS The targets associated with ACS and DILI were obtained from online databases. Cytoscape software was utilized to construct a "compound-target" network. In addition, Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were used to analyze the related signaling pathways impacted by ACS. AutoDock Vina was utilized to evaluate the binding affinity between bioactive compounds and the key targets. To validate the findings of network pharmacology, in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted. Cell viability assay, transaminase activity detection, immunofluorescence assay, immunohistochemistry staining, RT-qPCR, and western blotting were utilized to explore the effects of ACS. RESULTS 25 active compounds and 217 targets of ACS were screened, of which 94 common targets were considered as potential targets for ACS treating APAP-induced liver injury. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the effects of ACS exert their effects on liver injury through suppressing inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Molecular docking results demonstrated that core active compounds of ACS were successfully docked to core targets such as CASP3, BCL2L1, MAPK8, MAPK14, PTGS2, and NOS2. In vitro experiments showed that ACS effectively attenuated APAP-induced damage through suppressing transaminase activity and attenuating apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrated that ACS alleviated pathological changes in APAP-treated mice and attenuated inflammatory response. Additionally, ACS downregulated the expression of iNOS, COX2, and Caspase-3, and upregulated the expression of Bcl-2. ACS also suppressed the MAPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that ACS is a hepatoprotective drug through the combination of network pharmacology and in vitro and in vivo experiments. The findings reveal that ACS effectively attenuate APAP-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation through inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway. Consequently, this research offers novel evidence supporting the potential preventive efficacy of ACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali He
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China; National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Leping Chen
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China; Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China; National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bohong Cen
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China; National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jinxia Li
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China; National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yerong Wei
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China; National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiangcao Yao
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China; National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Zhongyuan Xu
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China; National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China.
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Zhang Y, Li H, Liu X, Wang Q, Zhao D, Su M, Jia Z, Shen S. Integrating Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology to Decipher the Hepatoprotective Effect Mechanisms of Magnesium Isoglycyrrhizinate Injection. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 46:279-298. [PMID: 38248321 PMCID: PMC10813909 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the liver protective effects of a fourth-generation glycyrrhizic acid product (magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate injection, MII) in the treatment of mice with drug-induced liver injury-specifically, to determine its effects on plasma metabolites. Moreover, the possible mechanism of its intervention in lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism through the liver protective effect was preliminarily explored, combined with network pharmacology. The liver injury model of mice was established using acetaminophen (APAP). The protective effect of MII on the mice model was evaluated using pathological tissue sections and biochemical indices such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Metabolomics analysis of plasma was performed using the UHPLC-QTOF/MS technique to screen for potential biomarkers and enriched metabolic pathways. The potential targets and pathways of MII were predicted by network pharmacology, and the mechanism was verified by Western blot analysis. MII significantly improved the pathological liver changes in mice with liver injury. The content of ALT and AST was decreased, and the activity of SOD was increased significantly (p < 0.05, 0.01). A total of 29 potential biomarkers were identified in the metabolomics analysis, mainly involving seven pathways, such as lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. A total of 44 intersection targets of MII in the treatment of liver injury were obtained by network pharmacology, involving lipid metabolism and other related pathways. Western blot analysis results showed that MII could significantly reduce the expression of JAK2 and STAT3. MII can effectively ameliorate liver injury in modeled mice through related pathways such as lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. This study could provide not only a scientific basis for the elucidation of the mechanism of action of MII in exerting a hepatoprotective effect, but also a reference for its rational clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (M.S.)
- NDMA Key Laboratory for Quality Control and Evaluation of Generic Drug, Hebei Institute for Drug and Medical Device Control, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (X.L.); (Q.W.); (D.Z.)
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (M.S.)
- NDMA Key Laboratory for Quality Control and Evaluation of Generic Drug, Hebei Institute for Drug and Medical Device Control, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (X.L.); (Q.W.); (D.Z.)
| | - Xueli Liu
- NDMA Key Laboratory for Quality Control and Evaluation of Generic Drug, Hebei Institute for Drug and Medical Device Control, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (X.L.); (Q.W.); (D.Z.)
| | - Qiang Wang
- NDMA Key Laboratory for Quality Control and Evaluation of Generic Drug, Hebei Institute for Drug and Medical Device Control, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (X.L.); (Q.W.); (D.Z.)
| | - Dong Zhao
- NDMA Key Laboratory for Quality Control and Evaluation of Generic Drug, Hebei Institute for Drug and Medical Device Control, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (X.L.); (Q.W.); (D.Z.)
| | - Ming Su
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Zhixin Jia
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 102629, China;
| | - Shigang Shen
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (M.S.)
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Li X, Lao R, Lei J, Chen Y, Zhou Q, Wang T, Tong Y. Natural Products for Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Injury: A Review. Molecules 2023; 28:7901. [PMID: 38067630 PMCID: PMC10708418 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver plays a vital role in metabolism, synthesis, and detoxification, but it is susceptible to damage from various factors such as viral infections, drug reactions, excessive alcohol consumption, and autoimmune diseases. This susceptibility is particularly problematic for patients requiring medication, as drug-induced liver injury often leads to underestimation, misdiagnosis, and difficulties in treatment. Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used and safe drug in therapeutic doses but can cause liver toxicity when taken in excessive amounts. This study aimed to investigate the hepatotoxicity of APAP and explore potential treatment strategies using a mouse model of APAP-induced liver injury. The study involved the evaluation of various natural products for their therapeutic potential. The findings revealed that natural products demonstrated promising hepatoprotective effects, potentially alleviating liver damage and improving liver function through various mechanisms such as oxidative stress and inflammation, which cause changes in signaling pathways. These results underscore the importance of exploring novel treatment options for drug-induced liver injury, suggesting that further research in this area could lead to the development of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions, ultimately benefiting patients with liver injury caused by medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyangzi Li
- School of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China; (X.L.); (R.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Ruyang Lao
- School of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China; (X.L.); (R.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Jiawei Lei
- School of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China; (X.L.); (R.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Yuting Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian 116000, China;
| | - Qi Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China;
| | - Ting Wang
- School of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China; (X.L.); (R.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Yingpeng Tong
- School of Pharmacy, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China;
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He Y, Wang H, Lin S, Chen T, Chang D, Sun Y, Wang C, Liu Y, Lu Y, Song J, Li S, Xu W, Lin Y, Zheng Y, Zhou X, Huang Q, Huang M. Advanced effect of curcumin and resveratrol on mitigating hepatic steatosis in metabolic associated fatty liver disease via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and HIF-1/VEGF cascade. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115279. [PMID: 37544281 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease that has no viable treatment. Curcumin (Cur) and resveratrol (Res) are two natural products that have been studied for their potential to ameliorate MAFLD. However, while these compounds have been investigated individually, their combined use and the potential for a synergistic or augmented effect remain unexplored. This study aims to investigate the effect of curcumin (Cur) and resveratrol (Res) as a potential combination therapy on MAFLD. Cur, Res and Cur+Res were tested in palmitic acid (PA)-induced-HepG2 cells. MAFLD model was established using Goto-Kakizaki rats. The animals were treated with vehicle control (model group), Cur (150 mg/kg), Res (150 mg/kg), Cur+Res (150 mg/kg, 8:2, w/w), or metformin (Met, positive control, 400 mg/kg/day) via oral gavage for 4 weeks. Wistar rats were used as the control group. Network pharmacology was conducted to elucidate the molecular actions of Cur and Res, followed by q-PCR and immunoblotting in vivo. Cur+Res exhibited synergistic effects in reducing triglyceride, total cholesterol and lipid accumulation in PA-induced HepG2 cells. The combination also markedly attenuated hepatic steatosis in the MAFLD rats. Network pharmacology illustrated that the interaction of Cur and Res was associated with the modulation of multiple molecular targets associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and HIF-1 signaling pathways. Experimental results confirmed that Cur+Res nomalised the gene targets and protein expressions in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and HIF-1 signaling pathways, including PI3K, mTOR, STAT-3, HIF-1α, and VEGF. The present study demonstrated an advanced effect of Cur and Res in combination to attenuate MAFLD, and the mechanism is at least partly associated with the modulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and HIF-1 signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui He
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China
| | - Huan Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China
| | - Shiling Lin
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China
| | - Tao Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China
| | - Dennis Chang
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Yibin Sun
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China
| | - Chenxiang Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China
| | - Yang Liu
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Yusheng Lu
- Fujian-Taiwan-Hongkong-Macao Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Intelligent Pharmaceutics, College of Material and Chemical Engineering, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Jianyuan Song
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350100, China
| | - Shaohua Li
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China
| | - Wen Xu
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China
| | - Yanxiang Lin
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China
| | - Yanfang Zheng
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China.
| | - Xian Zhou
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
| | - Qiumei Huang
- Guangdong Food and Drug Vocational College, Guangzhou 510520, China.
| | - Mingqing Huang
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350100, China.
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